Midnight Shift came from Redford Township, Michigan, at the northwest tip of Detroit. Above is the Midnight Shift right before becoming the Thomas Blood Band. The original bass player was Ken Mose (not in photo), the photo shows his replacement, Ken Victor.
Members were:
George Werenka (stage name George Whitfield) – vocals
Ed Pianasac (stage name Ed Jeffries) – guitar and vocals
Ken Mose, replaced by Ken Victor – bass and vocals
Bob Colone – drums and vocals
Their first release was “She’s Gone Far Away” b/w “Never Gonna Stop Lovin’ You”, both written by Ed Jeffreys and recorded sometime in late 1966.
The A-side is a gentle kind of love song while the flip has a harder sound with droning guitar and Bob Colane pounding the drums.
The band refined their sound for the next single in ’67, creating two beautiful melancholy compositions using acoustic guitar for rhythm.
“Every Day Without You”, written by Jeffries and Fazzio, is the more upbeat of the two, with excellent harmonies and hooks.
“Just Another Day”, written by Jeffries and Colone, is gentler and sadder, featuring a beautiful San Francisco-influenced electric solo.
They recorded both singles at M-S-I Recording Company in Livonia (next door to Redford). The band’s manager Bud Fazzio produced both singles.I don’t know of other groups that used M-S-I Recording, I suspect it was the band’s own rehearsal or studio space.
Midnight Shift changed into the Thomas Blood Band, who played at the nearby Grande Ballroom and continues with different lineups to the present day.
Bob Lelli of the Thomas Blood Band sent in the photo at top and wrote to me:
Bob Colone, Ed Jeffries and Ken Victor started Thomas Blood Band playing at the Grande with the Turtles, T-Rex, Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart and more. Bob Colone came out front from drums, they got another drummer and he was lead vocalist until his drowning in 1973. At the time in negotiation for a recording contract with London Records and more. Thomas Blood still plays today. We are doing the 50th Grande Ballroom Anniversary Concert with the Yardbirds and more on Oct 8th, 2016.
Thank you to Kim for the photos below (can anyone help ID the members on these?)
http://www.motorcitymusicarchives.com/thomasblood.html
Some photos of the members of Thomas Blood Band can be seen at Motor City Music Archives.
Ken Victor and Kenny Mose were two different people. Kenny Mose played with the Midnight Shift. They played frequently on Robin Seymour’s Swingin’ Time. Three of the guys from the Shift went on to form Thos. Blood. Ken Victor played with the Fybb and then later Thos. Blood.
OK, close but not quite accurate. Hi, my name is Ken Victor. I joined the Midnight Shift in the summer of 1968, replacing Kenny Mose. We went to the CKLW studios in Windsor many times to be on “Swingin’ Time” with Robin Seymour and then with Tom Shannon. We were promoting the song “Just Another Day” and a song called “Cardboard Gardener”. The photo above was taken in the parking lot of Northland Sopping Center in 1968. All four of us became the Thomas Blood Band. Also, I left
“The Fybb” to join the Midnight Shift.
I have emailed and spoken to Bob Lelli many times, but I have never actually met him. I am planning to play at the Grande 50th Anniversary with Thomas Blood. Hopefully Ed Jeffries will be there too.
Oops, sorry. That’s supposed to be Northland Shopping Center. Hi Tammy.
Hi Ken, I’ll be at the reunion. I’m looking forward to hearing the band again and also it will be great to see you!
Hey Ken, how awesome to find this and some of your music.
Isn’t the lead singer George werenka?
Kim, George sure was the Lead Singer in Midnight Shift – many live shows and I believe he was in the first version of Thomas Blood. You can see him in the newspaper ad when they played at Snoopy’s as Thomas Blood. Ken Victor would no better.
Ken, Do you ever recall doing a couple of songs entitled Stay With Me / I’ve Got You
Lead singer was George werenka NOT George Whitfield. I have pics and records from the band. I. Also have some stuff from Thomas blood band
George Werenka’s STAGE NAME was George Whitfield – just as Ed Pianasac used the STAGE NAME of Ed Jefferies.
Ed Pieniazek (Jefferies) is my dad. I only found out he was in these bands later in life and seeing these photos is really wild!
I’ve heard “Every Day Without You” and “Just Another Day” as they are posted on YouTube.
If anyone has other photos or recordings I would love to see/hear them! Please let me know!
George Werenka was my dad. I was born when he was only 21 and he quit the band shortly thereafter. He died 10 years ago at the age of 63. I knew he was in a band before I was born but he never played any of his music, nor did I see any band pictures until after he died. It is crazy to here his voice on these recordings because he never sang in front of us. When he quit the band he quit that part of his life all together. It was sad that I never knew this side of him. I miss him very much
Jennifer,
As I chronicle forgotten bands, here and other publications, I hear this often from the children of the members: they knew little or nothing of their parent’s music, only to discover it on You Tube or a music blog.
On the occasion I speak with a family member, or their own children, as to them having any photos for the pieces I write: they have nothing. In fact, they have contacted me asking if I have any photos or do I know where to get the 45-prm singles because no one in the family has a copy.
It’s great you were able to remember your dad through the site. And your sharing your memories. Chris vows the site will be around for a long, long time. So you’re dad will always be here, rockin’ the house.
Thomas,
It’s great you found this piece.
Long before the Internet dislodged all these bands, fans could only gossip at record swap meets about these bands and singles. Today, you can find everything with a simple online search. If there’s not a blog (like Garage Hangover) with a history on the band, that 45-single is more-than-likely uploaded on You Tube. To this day I am still amazed: “No way You Tube will have it?” And there it is.
You’re also one of few family members I’ve encountered over time (as I write pieces) asking the same question: Do I have any photos to give them or do I know where to get the singles?
Again, with the Internet, it’s amazing this stuff is even being scanned and ripped-for-upload at all — for everyone to enjoy. What’s great about Garage Hangover: it pulls together all the pieces n’ parts scattered on the web into one convenient, one-stop shopping/reading.
Thanks for posting this. I just ran across an old 78 record of “Just Another Day”. I was in high school
when they played in and around Livonia. I googled it and learned some interesting things about the band from your site. Those were the days!
One of the photos contains this caption “The Midnight Shift on Swingin’ Time, with unidentified female, George Whitfield to her left. Please help with IDs on this photo.” and I believe I can be of help. I am quite certain the female was Olga Chokreff who was the shows talent coordinator. She also was my aunt so I knew her well. Unfortunately we lost her to cancer in 1984.
I believe the guy on the far left is Ed Jeffries and maybe, just maybe, the guy on the far right is Ken Victor.